Can Chiropractic Care Help Jaw Pain?
Jaw pain can be a chronic, acute, severe, or mild condition, depending on various factors. But regardless of how severe or chronic the condition is, one thing is clear: anyone who has jaw pain wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
There are numerous treatment options for jaw pain, but one of the most effective is that of chiropractic care.
Jaw Anatomy and Physiology
Generally, when we talk about the jaw, we’re referring to the joint between the temporal bone (a bone in the skull), and the mandible. This joint consists of a protuberance from the mandible which fits into an opening in the temporal bone.
In most people, the mandibular head glides smoothly within the opening of the temporal bone as we open the mouth for eating or speaking.
With people who suffer from jaw pain, however, there may be slight growths on the bone or problems with how the joint moves. This can cause pinching of structures within this space which tends to lead to pain and dysfunction.
What Causes Jaw Pain?
Pain in any region of the body is tricky to diagnose and often even trickier to treat. The causes of jaw pain are many, but in this section, we will discuss some of the major ones.
Trauma
If you’ve ever watched a boxing match, you’ve probably seen some serious jaw trauma. But one doesn’t have to participate in combat sports to suffer a traumatic jaw injury.
Traumatic jaw injuries can occur after car accidents, falls, or many other incidents. These injuries often take a while to heal and can generally cause pain for long periods of time. Once the bruising and swelling have been managed, there are certain considerations that need to be made in order to ensure that the jaw heals normally. For instance, certain exercises, stretches, and chiropractic treatments can help to ensure perfect alignment of the jaw after a traumatic jaw injury.
Infection
In rare cases, infections can develop in the jaw region. Infections are often accompanied by swelling, heat, and redness. If you suspect an infection in your jaw, this is not something to ignore. Infections can wreak havoc in the body when they are not promptly addressed.
Sometimes, antibiotics may be necessary in order to curb infectious pathogens. However, some infections can be addressed by other methods. Either way, it bears repeating that potential infections should never be ignored!
TMJD
Sometimes, Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, or TMJD, occurs for no reason. However, it often develops in response to teeth grinding or other, similar habits.
TMJD often causes jaw clicking, catching, and pain in the jaw area. This disorder has led to a significant amount of medical research, as it usually causes debilitating pain, which makes it hard to eat, talk, or even sleep.
There are many proposed treatments for TMJD, each of which has various levels of efficacy.
Some clinicians will prescribe specific TMJD exercises which aim to realign the jaw. However, these exercises are not always effective.
In the next section, we’ll demonstrate how chiropractic care is one of the best options for TMJD.
Chiropractic Care and Jaw Pain
Chiropractors are experts at identifying misalignments in the spine. By identifying and correcting these misalignments, chiropractors can improve nerve conduction. In turn, these corrections will generally lead to decreased pain and symptoms of jaw pain conditions.
If you’ve been suffering from jaw pain or any conditions related to jaw pain dysfunction, come see your Noblesville chiropractor at Anchor Health Chiropractic. We are ready to help you today!
